Belly Button Discovery

So tired. So, so tired. Someone’s husband kept waking me up last night roleplaying various screeching animals while hanging out with his friends. It was mine, my husband. My energy today was given to me a la coffee which has long since worn off. Pardon any grammar or spelling issues because my brain is still floating in the pool where I left it this morning. 

Water aerobics were a blast this morning. I finally went to the deep end for the last 15 minutes of class with the other ladies who were strong/brave enough to. I’ve always been hesitant to because losing the comfort of the floor beneath my feet when my balance fails, as it often does, has felt too much for me. But today was a day to do something new after having to tighten the straps on my bathing suit again! I did much better than I expected. Not only did I not capsize, I found the workout to be much more intensive deeper in the water and could really feel the resistance much better. The last 15 minutes were a better workout than the first 45. I slapped my instructor with one of the pool noodles on accident while trying to figure out how the hell to make my arms and legs go two different directions for reverse jumping jacks, but she just laughed while I turned bright red. The instructor for my Tuesday and Thursday class is a gruff and husky older woman who reminds me of one of my grandmother’s friends that has been in my life since I was born. 

After the class, I just did not want to get out of the pool. So, feeling bold, I decided to swim in the lap lanes. I’m not going to go into the details of the excruciating pain my arm muscles endured after but at least I have a goal now… make it down and back more than once.  Good grief, that was rough. Picking up my gym bag afterwards felt like trying to retrieve Excalibur. 

I spent a little extra time in the shower just massaging my arms. I dropped my shampoo and instinctively sucked my stomach in to look down for it and the most amazing thing happened. I saw my belly button!! WTF!! It’s been at least 4 or 5 years since I could see my belly button without picking my stomach up because of how my fat rolls formed. I gasped, stopped, admired it and then took a picture, haha! It was so cool to me! I had to show my grandmother and the #teamgutbusters the picture. I’m still kind of in shock! 

I’m looking forward to strength training again in the morning before the pool. I don’t know that my arms are looking forward to it but they’re just going to have to get with it. I snapped a picture in the locker room, wearing something I’d usually never wear in public, but I was so proud of my belly button unearthing that I chose comfort over covering up because I felt I earned it. I think I’ll name my book “The Journey of the Disappearing Tits.” They’re just dipping out and I’m ok with it! Also, check out my arms getting all toned! That vein poppin’. I’m really enjoying seeing all these changes. I don’t know what the camera or the angle did to the other side of my face, but the pixels didn’t like me. 

I used to be an excuse maker. I had a good excuse for everything, and if you countered one, I had a whole list of really good ones still on backup. I’m not that person anymore. The only excuses I use are the ones to push myself harder. I listen to my body but I encourage it to give just a little more every time. You are stronger than your excuses and a hell of a lot better than them. Get out of your own way and go a little harder, a little further, a little bigger.